The actual results of Ohio State's exhibition against Ashland were never really in doubt. The Buckeyes were always going to win, and it was never going to be close – even with Ohio State playing without Alexa Hart and Makayla Waterman, who were held out as precautions as they deal with minor injuries.
That's exactly how it went. The Buckeyes trounced an overmatched Ashland team 110-80 in a game that was never really all that close, but that doesn't mean we didn't learn a few things.
1. Kelsey Mitchell Will Play Off Ball
In her first three-years at Ohio State, Kelsey Mitchell played almost exclusively at the point guard position, taking the ball up the court. This year, it appears she'll play off the ball more than she has in the past.
Mitchell began the game playing off ball, primarily in the right corner, as a shooting guard while Linnae Harper took over point guard duties. Though Mitchell still played most of the game as a point guard, as usual, the different look was something that's been discussed quite a bit before the season. Expect to see Mitchell off the ball more frequently this year than in the past.
2. Jensen Caretti Looks Much More Comfortable
There was little doubt about Jensen Caretti's athleticism when she enrolled at Ohio State last year, but there were definitely questions about her level of experience, as she grew up in a very small town where she was always the best player on the court.
Caretti played sparingly her freshman season, and those concerns seemed valid. She was arguably the most athletic player on the court every time she saw action, but she never really seemed comfortable.
On Sunday afternoon, she looked much more ready to contribute. She finished the game with just two points, two rebounds, a block and an assist, but she seemed to play with much more confidence, which is huge entering a season where the Buckeyes may need her to play meaningful minutes.
3. This Team is Not Deep
With two key players held out for the game, it was quite apparent this Buckeye team does not have a lot of depth. Ohio State played just eight players in the first half. That number includes Jensen Caretti, who played sparingly her freshman season, Chelsea Mitchell, who hasn't been a regular contributor her entire career, and recent walk-on Savitha Jayaraman.
Even if you add Alexa Hart and Makayla Waterman to that rotation, it's still a much tighter rotation than last year, as the Buckeyes lost three scholarship players following the 2016-17 season – Shayla Cooper to graduation and Kiara Lewis and Tori McCoy to transfer – and didn't add a single one in the offseason.
Less depth is not necessarily a bad thing, though. Tighter rotations allow for more familiarity among the players and less tinkering with lineups. That is, if everyone stays healthy.
4. Ohio State is Capable of Playing Small
With both Alexa Hart and Makayla Waterman out for the game, Ohio State was forced to play small the entire game, and it did so successfully with Stephanie Mavunga manning the post and four guards lining the perimeter.
The small lineup was effective. The Buckeyes were able to play fast on offense and aggressive on defense on the way to the 30-point victory.
5. Stephanie Mavunga and Linnae Harper Can Still Rebound
Last year, Stephanie Mavunga was one of the top rebounders in the Big Ten and she showed her tenacity on the glass, dominating the boards for 23 total rebounds to go with her 28 points.
Linnae Harper also shined on the boards, pulling down 14 to go with her 17 points. Both players recorded a double-double.
